This verse from Proverbs can carry with it a great deal of comfort. Or, it can just be a string of words that we read and to which we don’t attach any real meaning. Now I can’t imagine going through life and not trusting in God. I would feel so very alone and isolated if I thought I was going through life without the help of the One in whom all things are possible.

Too often we live our daily lives feeling as though it is through our own efforts that we make progress toward those things we wish to experience. We set goals, we have dreams, we do the work needed and maybe we soon see the fruit of our efforts before us. How wonderful! How magnificent to know that we have accomplished what we have set out to do. But did we really do it all alone, or was there a presence guiding and blessing us that stepped in to fill in the blanks, guide the journey and prepare the way so that we could see our dreams materialize?

We make the mistake when we come to believe that it is through our efforts alone that we accomplish our goals. We are meant to do those things that move us forward, but, trusting in God, making room for God, and allowing God a place at the table makes all the difference. Leave room for God to take action, leave room for God to bless you, leave room for God to lead you in perhaps even a different direction that will ultimately be even more magnificent than you ever thought possible. Our thoughts and minds, and our individual vision of life, is so limited compared to the vision that God has for us.

Let God take what you have begun and move you in ways that you never thought were possible, and then watch as a miracle is presented before you that is ever more beautiful than any dream you could have possibly envisioned on your own.

When we add God we have added the ingredient that makes all the difference.

Affirmation: “Thank you God for being the ingredient that really adds blessing and possibility to my life.”

It had been a very long, lonely, scary Saturday. It actually had begun on Friday at sundown. It was Sabbath – a day quite set apart from the other six in a week. The darkness was eerily quiet, a quiet that was like no other. Everything seemed to be suspended in a place that held no time or reference that a human mind could fully explain.

It was natural during this dark night that ones mind would turn with rapid and unfocused speed to many different thoughts. Sleep was not possible, so there was really nothing else to do but sit and contemplate. Thoughts, quite naturally, turned to another still and quiet night. A night in which the darkness was pierced by a bright star glowing in the heavens with a singleness of purpose. That particular night was about shepherds, angels singing of the glory of God and the gentle cries of a new born baby suddenly breaking the quiet with the proclamation of redemption, possibility and a new hope for humankind.

Tonight, there would be no such sudden cry.

After what had seemed endless hours it was suddenly time. The first faint glow of light was beginning to break through the heavenly sky and at last reveal the faintest beginnings of a new day. What would it hold? What would this day bring? One of pro-found grief and sorrow was all that one could think would be possible after the events of several days ago.

And so, some devoted, loyal and faithful women approached what had once been a cave. They walked slowly for the weight of their grief hung upon them. Their pain felt like splinters of wood piercing their hearts. Their hands ached in anguish as if huge nails had been driven into them. It was a deep reminder of what had happened and why they were now coming as they were to this place.

With each step they came closer to their destination and with each step the light became a little brighter. Suddenly something did not seem, nor feel, right. Had they come to the right place? It was not at all as they had left it. The entrance of the cave, where once there had been placed a huge stone, was now wide open. The stone that had been rolled to block that opening was now off to the side exposing the entrance. Had someone already come and opened the cave, this borrowed tomb of death, so that the women could enter and prepare the body that had been left inside for burial?

The women slowly approached, not exactly sure what was going on. The light was beginning to brighten and the women could suddenly see into the tomb. Where there had once been the darkness of death there was now light and they could see that the body was no longer where it had been left. What did remain was a white linen cloth that had once wrapped the body in a cocoon-like manner of repose.

And so Mary Magdalene, confused, and with tears streaming down her flushed face, dropped the spices she had brought and began to run from the tomb until she came upon the Disciple Peter. With breathless speech she managed to proclaim, “They had taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have taken him.”

Without another word they both ran back in the direction of the tomb, but Peter arrived first and stopped suddenly when he saw that what she had said to him was true. The cloths that had wrapped Jesus were lying a bit disheveled on the ground and the cloth that had covered his head was rolled and set neatly off to the other side. Without another word Peter, and another disciple who also ran and met him at the tomb, left, and slowly walked away in silence.

Mary, alone and staring into the tomb now totally filled with the light of the new days sun, suddenly heard a lone voice calling to her, saying, simply, “Mary.” And she knew at once that it was her Lord. He had risen and was no longer dead, no longer a slave to the darkness of the tomb, but alive. At once the piercing pain of the splinters she had felt in her heart, and the sorrow and anguish of nails driven into her palms was lifted. Mary was unable to speak, unable to move, but she knew at that moment that everything in the world was now changed.

Easter is about resurrection. It is about new hope in the light of a new day. It is about being released from the scary darkness of what had been – and into the light of what can now be.

It was to Peter that Mary first announced the risen Lord. Her announcement to him set in motion a world altering chain of events. Peter would at that moment begin to take in what had happened. To suddenly reflect back to all that Jesus had ever said and all that Jesus had ever done.

It had been to Peter that Jesus had proclaimed that through him he would build his church. This same Peter who had walked toward Jesus on a raging sea. Peter, who when asked by Jesus, “who do you say that I am? had replied, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” This same Peter who had been rebuked by Jesus when he said Jesus must never suffer and die, and Peter, who would deny knowing Jesus three times on the night that Jesus is led away to be falsely accused of treason. Now it is this self-same Peter who understands the miracle of resurrection.

Much later, as recorded in the book of Acts, Peter is preaching to the people when he says: “We are witnesses to all that Jesus did in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded witnesses to preach to the people and to testify that he is the ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness through his name.”

Now, in 2016, we are called to be among those witnesses. Now, through our faith and belief we are called to proclaim resurrection.

In the place of sorrow and pain to see renewal. In the place of weeping to hear the Angels sing. In the place of faces flushed with tears to experience renewal, purpose, understanding and freedom.

Resurrection is about life. Living life fully, and completely, each and every moment.

In the face of adversity roll back that stone of sorrow and let the light of resurrection lead you in joy to what is next for you.

We are witnesses to resurrection as we breathe life. We are witnesses when we see possibility where others would see defeat, and we are witnesses when, upon hearing the sounds of nature all around us, we affirm that God is now and forever a God of perfect creation. We are witnesses by forever being in awe and wonder to all that God is doing in the world.

Death never has the last word. Spirit is never broken – it may change how it is to be experienced – but a Resurrection Spirit will live forever in the actions and words of those who accept it and see Its possibility for everyone.

We humans spend a lot of time, and a lot of conscious thought, worrying about things. It almost becomes second nature to have something to worry about. We would never think of leaving the house without our keys, our money, and something for which to worry ourselves. After all, if we got bored with the people we were with, we would still have our worries to keep us occupied. But Jesus is very specific in telling us not to worry. Look at the lilies in the field, the birds in the air. And when you stop to think about it, the time we spend worrying could be used to much better use.

Think of all the things God has done for you and without your conscious awareness. You have been protected, you have been watched over, prayed over, loved over. What can worry do for you anyway, except perhaps use up your valuable present moments for no real reason? Worry robs you of the now. It robs you of the love of God working in your life at this very moment.

It is easy to say we should not worry, for most of us have much going on in our lives and all too often we are unsure of the pending outcomes. But, perhaps there is one thing we can do when thoughts of worry begin to overtake us. That is to stop, move our conscious thinking away from the worry and on to the realization that God is still right where we are. Our minds can only focus on one thing at a time, so why not place that focus on the presence of God? God’s arms are wrapped around you. See that, focus on that, instead of “what might,” “what could,” or “what if?” Move your thoughts to affirming the resurrected Spirit of the Christ that is with you in all of Its perfection and glory.

Did you give up worry for Lent? If not, why not start right now? It’s never too late.

Affirmation: “I trust you God, so I have the assurance that all is well.”

“Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” (Matthew 14: 28)

I love the story of the Disciples in the boat on one of the many times they were crossing the sea. The storms are pounding the boat and they are terrified. Suddenly, out over the sea they see a figure walking toward them and they think at that moment they were seeing a ghost and their fate is doomed. They finally realize what they are seeing is Jesus walking toward them on the sea. An amazing vision of Jesus who sees beyond the limitation of earthly human form and into the very essence and possibility of what God can do in the world. Peter tests Jesus and says that if he is really Jesus he will command him to walk out to Jesus. Jesus calls forth to Peter to come and join him and Peter steps out onto the raging water and at first he is successful in walking toward Jesus. Jesus tells him to keep his eyes locked and fixed on him. Don’t look away, don’t let anything happening around him, the raging waters or the wind, alter the fact that Peter is in the gaze of the Christ. But, in all his humanity, with human limitations and expectations, with a human mind-set and with human experiences, Peter, seeing the waves and the wind, becomes frightened and begins to sink. And what does Jesus do? He reaches out his hand and lovingly pulls Peter back up.

In the presence of the Christ, with our gaze upon him, we will always be safe, blessed, anointed and strengthened.

As we live our lives, and desire to move forward as dedicated students of Jesus, at times we all have to be willing to get out of the boat. No matter what is happening all around you, whatever your human senses and limitations are saying to you, in Christ we are reconciled to an unlimited and perfect God. Sometimes we need to get out of the boat. Get out of the safety zone of the way things have always been and, with a renewed faith, see the transforming possibility of your life that can only be found in Christ.

Affirmation: “With my eyes firmly fixed upon those of Jesus I know I am always safe and protected.”

“I praise you, for I am awesomely and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.” (Psalm 139: 14)

Anyone who has followed just about anything I write, or preach, has most likely come to the conclusion that I believe in the power of affirmations. Daily affirming the presence of God in all of God’s magnificent glory working in, and through, and as our lives, has a powerful way of lifting our belief and trust to new levels of faith. First person, present tense affirmations such as, “Right now I am experiencing the presence of God moving me to new understanding and clarity in my life” are game-changers. They help to move us to a new awareness of that presence that is always with us and to the truth that we are never alone.

There is another powerful way to affirm God’s presence and it is one that is not always easy for people to do. It involves looking at oneself in the mirror, right in your eyes and not moving your gaze, and speaking to yourself in the “second person.” In this way we would affirm, “You are a beautiful creation of a God who knows only good. You are a blessing to all with whom you come in contact and you touch the lives of many.”

The interesting thing about this exercise is that, one, it is often easier to see the fullness and love of God for another than it is for oneself, and, secondly, it can be difficult to look oneself in the eye and not allow old tapes of our feelings of limitation and lack to overcome us. Deep within all of us lives the sum total of everything we have experienced in life. Good or bad, these thoughts, just beneath the surface of our consciousness, have shaped and formed us to be who we are. Looking at oneself in the mirror and affirming the truth of who you are as God’s creation will begin to change how you see yourself and your place in God’s world.

You are wonderfully made by a God who loves you unconditionally. Remember to tell yourself that often and then go forth to live that truth in the world. Your life will change in wonderfully miraculous ways.

Affirmation: In the mirror: “You are a child of God. Loved completely, just as you are.”

“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43: 19)

To me one of the most beautiful experiences in my spiritual journey is the time that I spend in meditation. It is a time in which I set the stage within myself to experiencing new and exciting revelations of all that God is doing in my life and in the world. It is in meditation that we pour a foundation onto which we can build castles souring into the sky that are filled with perfect Spirit/God.

I offer the following prayer as a prelude for your quiet time. Be open to all that God is creating in your life and be prepared to be in awe.

Prayer: Wondrous God, I am here today, in in this sacred and special time, that I may come into a greater awareness of your divine presence, always with me. As I seek you and turn within, centering myself, and opening my heart and mind to new truths and revelations of your power and presence, I seek you in what has perhaps before been a hidden place. Hidden not because you would withhold anything from me, but hidden because I have closed myself off from you. Hidden because I have been far too complacent in my life and hidden because I have lived my life with a belief that the way things have always been is the way they must always be. No more. I come today with a new intention. An intention to be open to you, to be open to new thoughts, ideas, revelations of your Spirit, and new insights into how you work in, and through, and as my life in each and every moment. I know that I need only turn to an awareness of my breathing, in and out, to be reminded of just how close you are to me. For these things I experience today I give you thanksgiving. I know you meet me always right where I am at every moment.

And so it is, and so I let it be. Amen.

Affirmation: “God is creating all things new. I rest in the wonder of this new creation and see amazing new possibility in my life, the lives of those I love, and our world.”

It is probably a very wise thing that we do not wish to be subjected to the censorship of others to those things we can read, watch, study and/or pursue. But, I will concede that there is one form, and perhaps one form only, of censorship that I do believe in. That is the self-censorship of our own minds.

Too easily in life our thoughts, beliefs, words and actions can go negative. Too easily we can see and have thoughts of limitation, lack and scarcity. Because we do this we often churn with negative energy and let defeatist ideas decay our lives with a cancer of distrust and hate. Even when faced with something that could be wonderful we sometimes turn it around and find a way to sabotage it so we can once again feel it could never work. It is very easy to sabotage a positive idea, or thought, rather than to make the decisions and do the work to make that idea a wonderful outcome in your life.

So, what does it mean to have censorship over your thinking and your thoughts? Well, think of your life, your thoughts and your actions, as a garden. What are you planting there? What are you cultivating there? If you plant weeds it will be weeds that you get. Do you really want weeds? If so, fine, you now have them. No you say? Then don’t plant that. Don’t plant the weeds. Plant something else.

If you want peaches in your garden, plant peaches. If you want tomatoes in your garden plant tomatoes. You would never plant lettuce if what you really wanted was corn. We dwell on and affirm those things we forever wish to experience.

When your thoughts begin to go negative, with judgments, feelings of entitlement or darkness, stop and remember what it is you truly wish to experience. We all desire to experience good in our lives, so we must also desire that for others. There is always enough God Energy and Spirit to go around for everyone. We all wish to experience peace in our lives, so we must also desire that for others. We all wish to feel safe and comfortable in our lives, so we must also desire that for others.

Censoring ones thoughts of the negative and replacing those thoughts with ideas of abundance, prosperity, hope, love, peace and affirmations of the powerful presence of God will change your life. It will also change the lives of those with whom you come in contact. Thoughts of God’s positive energy and vibration are a powerful magnet that will draw to you those things that are life affirming. They will draw to you those things you wish to experience and they will draw to you the people who will be delightful companions upon your journey.

Erase from you’re thinking negativity and replace it with the positive, life affirming energy and presence of Spirit/God. You know what will happen? You will change your life for the better. Plant the seeds of faith through your thoughts, words and actions, allow Spirit/God to direct you to those things you must then do and then faithfully know that God can handle what is next.

Censorship? We are each the best censor of those things we wish to experience and we can begin today by filtering out the thoughts, words and ideas that no longer serve us, seeing instead the amazing possibility of an abundant life, created and empowered by Spirit/God, right where we are.

“Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” (Mark 4:8)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

Our scripture is a cry to God for help. It is saying to God, “wash me.” Make me clean. Lift my inequity. Take my past upon you God. Take that past and purge it of its defect that it need not be that force of energy that creates my present and my future. Restore me, sustain me and give me a willing spirit to continue on this new course of life.

Our scripture is both a cry for help as well as an acknowledgment that this change of life cannot be done alone, but that it requires the intervention of the power of forgiveness by a loving and merciful God. But if we are willing to receive forgiveness from God we must also be willing to forgive others. A new and right spirit within us must include our determination to give to others that which we would also wish to receive. A new and right spirit that affirms the cycle of perfect God/Spirit moving in our lives to uplift and bless everyone opens us up to seeing more of the wonders of God all around us.

There is a powerful ripple effect that is created by each and every one of our lives. Make no mistake about it. The spirit of forgiveness that we embody, that we offer to others, and that we accept, can touch the lives of other people and we may never even know it. It touches them because it is an outpouring energy of Spirit that creates around us a wonderful light. It is an amazing energy and vibration that invites others in, tells them they are loved and that they have value. If we feel in need of a blessing perhaps the best way to begin to experience that blessing is to be first a blessing to others.

Start with forgiveness. What comes next may just amaze you.

Affirmation: “My life is blessed because I know I believe in, and trust, a forgiving and merciful God.”

“There in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’” (Revelation 4:1)

So often in life we have the feeling that a door has closed to something that had great meaning for us. As sad as it may seem that this door has closed perhaps that old saying is correct, that when one door closes another one opens. At least that is always our hope. This now closed door can provide us with a time to examine how we view this occurrence. Maybe we are too quick to label it as negative. So, rather than dwell on the fact that this door before us now closed, maybe what has actually occurred is that the first door has closed from the draft of a new door God is swinging open, with new opportunity presenting itself. This new opportunity could very well be one that we would have never recognized if we were too invested in the journey through that original door. That door that has closed could be the best thing that ever happened to us. The draft from this new door opening is something we can affirm begins a new and exciting journey, replete with new opportunities to learn and grow. New corridors are exposed from which we can receive inspiration and insight.

New doors opening are all part of God’s divine ongoing creation. Since we know that we never take our journey of life alone, but that the presence of God/Spirit is always right where we are, we can rest assured that exciting adventures and experiences await us.